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Westgate Oxford: New £440m shopping centre opens | Westgate Oxford: New £440m shopping centre opens |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A new £440m shopping centre in Oxford has opened after a final push saw it finished just in time. | |
Hundreds of shoppers have descended on Westgate Oxford, which replaces a 1970s centre that was demolished in 2016, after previous redevelopments stalled. | |
An estimated 15m people will visit annually and 3,500 full-time jobs created, Westgate Oxford Alliance said. | |
It covers 800,000 sq ft (74,300 sq m) and has space for 100 shops, restaurants and a cinema. | It covers 800,000 sq ft (74,300 sq m) and has space for 100 shops, restaurants and a cinema. |
BBC News's Phil Mercer-Kelly said there had been a "tense" rush to finish the centre in time "which gave way to expectation as the shops opened". | |
There are now many queues to access several stores. | |
Oxford City Council said it was confident the development would not harm other shops in the rest of the city. | Oxford City Council said it was confident the development would not harm other shops in the rest of the city. |
A spokesman added the impact of new centres in other cities had been looked at and the council expected footfall to increase across neighbouring streets. | A spokesman added the impact of new centres in other cities had been looked at and the council expected footfall to increase across neighbouring streets. |
About a half of the units at the shopping centre were ready to start trading today, and the alliance's development manager, Sara Fuge, said the remaining ones would open in the run-up to Christmas. | |
She added there was "pent up" demand for retail space in the city. | She added there was "pent up" demand for retail space in the city. |
The plans for the centre were approved by Oxford City Council in November 2014 and building work started the following spring. | The plans for the centre were approved by Oxford City Council in November 2014 and building work started the following spring. |
An archaeological dig took place prior to construction and allowed experts to explore remains of a medieval friary which once stood on the site. | An archaeological dig took place prior to construction and allowed experts to explore remains of a medieval friary which once stood on the site. |
The redevelopment followed a previous plan to rebuild the site, which was placed on hold in 2008 by former owners Liberty International because of the financial crisis. | The redevelopment followed a previous plan to rebuild the site, which was placed on hold in 2008 by former owners Liberty International because of the financial crisis. |
An earlier £220m rebuild also failed to progress in 2002 when the government ruled it was not in keeping with Oxford's historic character. | An earlier £220m rebuild also failed to progress in 2002 when the government ruled it was not in keeping with Oxford's historic character. |
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